A-Pillar Grab Handle

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jessetischauser
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A-Pillar Grab Handle

Post by jessetischauser »

Hey Guys & Gals,

I recently purchased a '68 F100 4x4 with a lift on it. The wife needs a trampoline to get into it. I was trying to find some sort of grab handle for the passenger side A-Pillar but was unsuccessful. Anybody out there have a good solution before I start trying to make my own?

Heck maybe ill just put a big old piece of rope over there with a few knots tied into it for grip.

Thanks in advance!
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1968 Ford F100 4x4
MikeB
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Re: A-Pillar Grab Handle

Post by MikeB »

Im in the same boat.I’ve seen the chrome grab handle mounted outside left of door and the grab bars for jeeps and 4x4. I was thinking of having a leather strap hangermade by a leather craftsman that I could bolt to Pillar like the first pic or one mounted above the door like the second pic. They won’t look stock so I figured custom made dyed the color of my interior (red). Got to be quality to prevent wifey from busting her .......
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1972 F250 4x4 XLT stock but P.O. hacked
2010 F350 CC LB 4x4 stock
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jessetischauser
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Re: A-Pillar Grab Handle

Post by jessetischauser »

MikeB wrote:Im in the same boat.I’ve seen the chrome grab handle mounted outside left of door and the grab bars for jeeps and 4x4. I was thinking of having a leather strap hangermade by a leather craftsman that I could bolt to Pillar like the first pic or one mounted above the door like the second pic. They won’t look stock so I figured custom made dyed the color of my interior (red). Got to be quality to prevent wifey from busting her .......
I like that idea! I wonder how string that A-Pillar will be when screwing something into it. There isn't anyway I could figure to get a large washer or even a nut on the backside.
1957 International Travelall
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1962 Lincoln Continental
1966 Ford Bronco U13
1966 Chevrolet Corvette
1968 Ford F100 4x4
MikeB
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Re: A-Pillar Grab Handle

Post by MikeB »

Well I think it’s mostly a sheer force situation so it may depend on the fastener more than the sheet metal. I was going to check out rivet nuts (blind nut) because of their size and strength. It’s not a seat belt so it’s minimal force.

If you go with above the door type handle you can get behind the sheet metal from the top by removing headliner. Same thing if wanting to get behind pillar just would be aggravating trying to fish it down but not impossible. Then you could uses a seatbelt bolt retrofit kit.
1972 F250 4x4 XLT stock but P.O. hacked
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sargentrs
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Re: A-Pillar Grab Handle

Post by sargentrs »

MikeB wrote: I was going to check out rivet nuts (blind nut) because of their size and strength.
Definitely the way to go. We use a lot of them at work installed in several customer's mounting panels. Very strong and come in a variety of sizes. 1/4" would work fine for the application.
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1970 F100 Sport Custom Limited LWB, 302cid, 3 on the tree. NO A/C, NO P/S, NO P/B. Currently in 1000 pcs while rebuilding. Project thread: http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=59995 Plan: 351w, C4, LSD, pwr front disc, p/s, a/c, bucket seats, new interior and paint.
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Re: A-Pillar Grab Handle

Post by MikeB »

sargentrs wrote:
MikeB wrote: I was going to check out rivet nuts (blind nut) because of their size and strength.
Definitely the way to go. We use a lot of them at work installed in several customer's mounting panels. Very strong and come in a variety of sizes. 1/4" would work fine for the application.
Good to know.

Thanks
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Re: A-Pillar Grab Handle

Post by MikeB »

sargentrs wrote:
MikeB wrote: I was going to check out rivet nuts (blind nut) because of their size and strength.
Definitely the way to go. We use a lot of them at work installed in several customer's mounting panels. Very strong and come in a variety of sizes. 1/4" would work fine for the application.
Randy
Does Installing rivet nuts require the tool or can the nuts be expanded by the bolt?

Thanks
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Re: A-Pillar Grab Handle

Post by sargentrs »

You don't need a special tool but there is a technique to it. You want to screw a nut and washer onto a bolt, spin the rivnut up on the bolt until you have about 1/4" of bolt thread showing, insert it in the hole and then use the bolt to squeeze it from the bottom up. Here's a video showing what I mean. https://youtu.be/AfQIYLSKGwI
Randy
1970 F100 Sport Custom Limited LWB, 302cid, 3 on the tree. NO A/C, NO P/S, NO P/B. Currently in 1000 pcs while rebuilding. Project thread: http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=59995 Plan: 351w, C4, LSD, pwr front disc, p/s, a/c, bucket seats, new interior and paint.
1987 F-150 XLT Lariat, 5.0/C6 auto.
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Re: A-Pillar Grab Handle

Post by MikeB »

sargentrs wrote:You don't need a special tool but there is a technique to it. You want to screw a nut and washer onto a bolt, spin the rivnut up on the bolt until you have about 1/4" of bolt thread showing, insert it in the hole and then use the bolt to squeeze it from the bottom up. Here's a video showing what I mean. https://youtu.be/AfQIYLSKGwI
Excellent! Thanks
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Re: A-Pillar Grab Handle

Post by Zorm »

I've got on of those guns, more like a pop-rivet gun, never thought about the nut and bold idea, that's brilliant!!
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